The musicologist Robert "Mack" McCormick opined that Hopkins is "the embodiment of the jazz-and-poetry spirit, representing its ancient form in the single creator whose words and music are one act".
Hopkins was born in Centerville, Texas, and as a child was immersed in the sounds of the blues. He developed a deep appreciation for this music at the age of 8, when he met Blind Lemon Jefferson at a church picnic in Buffalo, Texas. That day, Hopkins felt the blues was "in him".[citation needed] He went on to learn from his older (distant) cousin, the country blues singer Alger "Texas" Alexander. (Hopkins had another cousin, the Texas electric blues guitarist Frankie Lee Sims, with whom he later recorded.) Hopkins began accompanying Jefferson on guitar at informal church gatherings. Jefferson reputedly never let anyone play with him except young Hopkins, and Hopkins learned much from Jefferson at these gatherings.
Hopkins's style was born from spending many hours playing informally without a backing band. His distinctive fingerstyle technique often included playing, in effect, bass, rhythm, lead, and percussion at the same time. He played both "alternating" and "monotonic" bass styles incorporating imaginative, often chromatic turnarounds and single-note lead lines. Tapping or slapping the body of his guitar added rhythmic accompaniment.
Much of Hopkins's music follows the standard 12-bar blues template, but his phrasing was free and loose. Many of his songs were in the talking blues style, but he was a powerful and confident singer.[citation needed] Lyrically, his songs expressed the problems of life in the segregated South, bad luck in love and other subjects common in the blues idiom. He dealt with these subjects with humor and good nature. Many of his songs are filled with double entendres, and he was known for his humorous introductions to songs.
Hopkins died of esophageal cancer in Houston on January 30, 1982, at the age of 69. His obituary in the New York Times described him as "one of the great country blues singers and perhaps the greatest single influence on rock guitar players.".
Moving On Out Boogie
Lightnin' Hopkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sound like I can hear moaning, death bell ringing all in my head
Yeah I know that I was gonna leave on a chariot but I didn't know,
what kind of chariot gonna take me away from here
I want you to remember every living people, every living people bound to die
I want you to remember every living people, every living people bound to die
Yeah you know when that chariot come at you, they'll break running, try to hide
You all know my mama told me, you know my papa told me too
You know my mama told me, oh papa told me too
He said you know one day son, that chariot, oh Lord, coming after you
Yeah you know the life I'm living, I've been living it for a many year
You know the life I'm living, I've been living it for a many year
I know the chariot was coming for me but I didn't know,
what kind of chariot gonna take me away from here
In "Moving on Out Boogie" by Lightnin' Hopkins, the lyrics describe the fear and awareness of death. The song opens with the sound of moaning and the ringing of a death bell echoing in the singer's head. He knows that he is destined to leave this world, but is unsure of the means of his departure. He speaks of a chariot that will come to take him away and the fear he has of what kind of chariot it will be. This represents his uncertainty of what kind of death he will face, making him feel both anxious and scared.
The second verse warns the listener of the inevitability of death. The singer wants everyone to remember that every living person is bound to die. When the chariot comes, some will try to run and hide, but there’s no escaping death. The third verse reveals that this fear and understanding of death has been instilled in the singer since childhood. Both his mama and papa have warned him of the coming chariot that will one day take him away. Despite knowing that his time will eventually come, he continues to live his life, unsure of the method by which he'll be taken.
The songwriter uses this song as a metaphor, comparing death to the chariot that will come to take us all away. He displays the fear and uncertainty that comes with death, but also warns of its inevitability. The powerful imagery of the "chariot" throughout the song reinforces the message that death is something that can’t be escaped. This powerful messaging makes it one of the most profound blues songs of all time.
Line by Line Meaning
Sound like I'm hearing moaning, death bell ringing all in my head
I can hear the sounds of death and feel its presence looming over me, causing me to feel uneasy and distraught.
Yeah I know that I was gonna leave on a chariot but I didn't know,
what kind of chariot gonna take me away from here
I know that my time to leave this life is coming, but I am unsure of how it will happen or what my fate will be.
I want you to remember every living people, every living people bound to die
I want you to remember that every single person is mortal and will eventually pass away.
Yeah you know when that chariot come at you, they'll break running, try to hide
When the time comes for someone to face death, it is natural to want to avoid it and try to escape its grasp.
You all know my mama told me, you know my papa told me too
Both my mother and father have warned me about the inevitability of death and how it will eventually come for me.
He said you know one day son, that chariot, oh Lord, coming after you
My parents have cautioned me that one day, death will inevitably come for me, regardless of my wishes or desires to avoid it.
You know the life I'm living, I've been living it for a many year
I have been living my life for a long time, and have experienced both the joys and struggles that come with it.
I know the chariot was coming for me but I didn't know,
what kind of chariot gonna take me away from here
I am aware of the inevitability of death, but I am unsure of how it will come for me or what my fate will be after I pass away.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@holyspacemonkey
This was recorded in April 1954 at ACA Studios in Houston. My grandfather Bill Holford recorded it!
@grantkelly7634
Supah Cool...!!
@IBTino2
There will never be another Lightnin' Hopkins in our lifetime
@theinvisibleartists4444
I love lightning Hopkins I've been listening to him for decades but I've never heard this song until this very day when I'm selling my house and moving damn! I'm going to play this one all day long!
@steveharrop8705
Discovered this guy in the early sixties. Amazing player. Difficult to get his records in the sixties in the UK
@dinoskaragian5390
MAESTRO.. Love from Athens, Greece.
@pedrofigueroa7537
The only thing that keeps me on this planet 🤘 alrighht
@biancabagnolet5948
c'est toujours aussi génial j'aime trop c'est fantastique comme toujours j'adore
@holdonphoton
AS GOOD AS IT GETS. What a groove.
@MichaelADAddario
Oh my!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This man was fierce!